In the middle if Fajr prayers this morning the house I am staying in was rocked – nay, blasted – to the foundations by a series of massive explosions, followed by the sound of falling masonry.

As the air filled with dust and who-knows-what choking chemicals, the local imam continued the prayer, as did I.

I soon received a text confirming that the target was the Council of Ministers, which was destroyed by five rockets. This follows the destruction of the Ministry of Interior yesterday, at least one UNRWA school, factories, infrastructure, and productive agricultural land.

With its targets, Israel is sending clear messages to the international community – we will destroy whatever you rebuild in Gaza, and political solidarity visits, such as that of he Egyptian Prime Minister yesterday, and that of the Emir of Qatar a few weeks ago, will have a price.

With its targets, Israel is trying to destroy the very means of survival of the Gaza population – its food production, and its children sending a clear message that it will do everything in its power to destroy every last shred of resistance.

We in Gaza are sending an equally loud and clear message to Israel – YOUR WAR CRIMES WILL NOT GO UNANSWERED, NOR WILL WE BE BE SCARED INTO SUBMISSION.
November 17, 2012 |

The Gaza Health Ministry reports that the total of the Zionist aggression on the Gaza Strip has now reached 293 victims, including 23 dead and 270 wounded.

In a press statement released to Al-Ray Online the Ministry informed that the number of martyrs reached 23, pointing out that on the first day of the aggression (Wednesday) there were 8 martyrs,on the next day there were 10, and on Friday another 5.

The Ministry advised that 19 of the fatalities are males, and four are female. There have been 8 children killed, and 15 adults including three elderly persons.

The Ministry said that the number of wounded has reached 270, with 174 males and 96 females, while the total number of children affected is 101, of whom 34 are less than 5 years. Adults numbered 169, including 21 men over 50 years of age.
ENDS